Mouse with optical buttons

Abstract

A mouse device includes a motion detector for detecting motion of the mouse relative to a work surface. An optical mouse button optically detects movement of a finger positioned on the optical mouse button. A controller generates button press information based on the optically detected movement. The button press information indicates whether the optical mouse button has been actuated.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mouse device comprising: 
 a motion detector for detecting motion of the mouse relative to a work surface;    an optical mouse button for optically detecting movement of a finger positioned on the optical mouse button; and    a controller for generating button press information based on the optically detected movement, the button press information indicating whether the optical mouse button has been actuated.    
     
     
         2 . The mouse device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical mouse button optically detects movement of the finger by correlating successive digital images of the finger to determine a direction and an amount of movement.  
     
     
         3 . The mouse device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical mouse button includes a first surface for placement of a finger, and an optical motion detector for detecting movement of finger placed on the first surface.  
     
     
         4 . The mouse device of  claim 3 , wherein the optical motion detector is positioned adjacent and perpendicular to the first surface.  
     
     
         5 . The mouse device of  claim 3 , wherein the optical motion detector is positioned parallel to and in the same plane as the first surface.  
     
     
         6 . The mouse device of  claim 1 , wherein the mouse device is a mechanical mouse.  
     
     
         7 . The mouse device of  claim 1 , wherein the mouse device is an optical mouse.  
     
     
         8 . The mouse device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical mouse button and the controller are configured to act as a fingerprint recognition sensor.  
     
     
         9 . A method for generating data for controlling a screen pointer with a mouse, the method comprising: 
 sensing motion of the mouse relative to a work surface;    generating a first set of movement data based on the sensed motion of the mouse, the first set of movement data indicative of motion of the mouse relative to the work surface;    optically sensing motion of a finger placed on the mouse;    generating a second set of movement data based on the optically sensed motion of the finger, the second set of movement data indicative of motion of the finger; and    generating button press information based on the second set of movement data.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of optically sensing motion of a finger comprises: 
 correlating successive digital images of the finger to determine a direction and an amount of movement of the finger.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mouse is a mechanical mouse.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mouse is an optical mouse.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein motion of the finger is optically sensed with an optical motion sensor, the method further comprising: 
 capturing an image of the finger with the optical motion sensor;    comparing the captured image of the finger with stored image data; and    determining whether the captured image of the finger matches a stored image.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , and further comprising: 
 controlling operation of the mouse based on the determination of whether the captured image of the finger matches the stored image.    
     
     
         15 . A mouse device for generating data for controlling a screen pointer, the mouse device comprising: 
 a motion detection mechanism for detecting movement of the mouse device relative to a work surface;    a first surface on the mouse device for placement of a finger;    an optical motion detector for generating movement data representative of movement of a finger placed on the first surface; and    a controller for generating button press data based on the generated movement data.    
     
     
         16 . The mouse device of  claim 15 , wherein the optical motion detector generates movement data by correlating successive digital images of the finger to determine a direction and an amount of movement.  
     
     
         17 . The mouse device of  claim 15 , wherein the optical motion detector is positioned adjacent and perpendicular to the first surface.  
     
     
         18 . The mouse device of  claim 15 , wherein the optical motion detector is positioned parallel to and in the same plane as the first surface.  
     
     
         19 . The mouse device of  claim 15 , wherein the mouse device is a mechanical mouse.  
     
     
         20 . The mouse device of  claim 15 , wherein the mouse device is an optical mouse.  
     
     
         21 . The mouse device of  claim 15 , wherein the optical motion detector and the controller are configured to act as a fingerprint recognition sensor.